Commutator-brush holder for electric motors



(No Model.)

G. H.- CONDIOT. GOMMUTATOR BRUSH HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

No. 445,521. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

inveni'or':

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HERBERT OONDICT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COMMUTATOR-BRUSH HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,521, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed April 18, 1890 Serial No. 848,450, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEoneE HERBERT Con- DICT, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Commutator-Brush Holders for Electric Motors, &c., of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric motors or dynamos, with particular reference to commutator-brush holders; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable construction of brush-holder for electric motors or dynamo-electric machines, but particularl r 101 use on the former, and especially where such electric motors are employed for traction purposes, such as in the propulsion of electric cars, because in such case there is great difficulty in properly feeding, holding, and adjusting the brushes, owing to the constant and excessive jarring of the appaatus.

In carrying out my invention I form the brush-holder of two parts, one of which is hinged to the frame of the motor or dynamo and the other of which is hinged to the first mentioned part, the said parts being formed of a shape adapted to receive a block of carbon or other suitable material designed to act as the brush and clamp the same. The 0011- struetion is also one which permits the ready insertion or removal of the brush with respect to the brush-holder. The two brush-holders are ar *a-nged upon opposite sides of the commutator, and the secondary portions thereof are connected by means of insulated rod, spring, and nut, the latter being provided with a weight, so as to prevent the possibility of unscrewing and reducing the tension of the spring while subjected to the heavy jarring action of the machine when employed as a motor for traction purposes.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an electric motor or dynamo-electric machine with a portion of the main frame broken away, showing my inn proved commutator-brushes. Fig. 2 end elevation of one of my improved commutator-brush holders. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the primary and secondary portions of the lnuslrholder. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the shutter with the brush-holder removed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the insulating-washer used upon the tension-rod, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the carbon brushes removed.

A is the main frame of the machine.

13 is the armature-shaft, and O is the commutator.

Pivoted to the main frame at (Z and on opposite sides of the commutator, and movable to or from the commutator, are the two brushholders, each of which consists of a primary part D, hinged at (I, and a secondary part F, hinged at G to the primary part. The primary part is provided with a socket E on its lower portion, in which is received the brush K, which is preferably formed of a block of carbon, substantially as shown in Fig. 6. The secondary part F is hinged to the outer or rear portion of the primary part D, and is provided on its port-ion adjacent to the commutator with a jaw f, the function of which is to support the carbon brush K in the socket E, and at the same time grip the said carbon brush and hold it firmly.

is an II is a shutter hinged at It to the primary part D, and is supported at its free end by the pin I. This shutter is dropped down after the carbon brush K has been inserted between the primary and secondary parts D and F, to

prevent any possibility of its working out backward in case of any slippage. The lower portions of the secondary parts are provided with holes J. To one end of one of these secondary parts F is hinged a socketpiece m, to which is secured a tension-rod ill, 0

.I. The end of the tension-rod M is screw 5 threaded, as shown in Fig. 1,and is provided with a nut P upon its end, having the weight R formed thereon so as to prevent its being from reaching the rod M.

The pressure exerted by the sprii ig N is transmitted to the brush-holders and acts to draw them toward each other, and thereby equalize their pressure upon diametricallyopposite sides of the commutator. By rotating the nut P upon the shaft M the power of of the spring N may be increased or decreased, as desired.

It is evident that as the carbon brushes K wear the said wear is compensated for by the action of the spring N, and when the carbon is worn down to the face of the brushholder the said carbon can be pushed forward in its socket by first releasing the gripping action of the jaw fiand by allowing the secondary part F to come again into action thesaid jaw may again clamp the carbon brush in the socket-piece. By this means the entire brush can be consumed before a new one is required.

I do not limit myself to the mere details of construct-ion herein set out, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a commutator, two bruslrholders movable to or from the commutator, a screw-threaded tension-rod for drawing said brush holders toward each other, and an adjusting-nut provided with a weight whereby said nut may be maintained in any predetermined position upon the rodthrough a rod and spring, and an adjusting nut acting upon the spring and provided with a weighted portion to prevent its being rotated when jarred. v

-i. The combination of the commutator with two brush-holders, hinged to the frame of the machine and havingtheir free ends connected through a rod and spring, an adjusting-nut acting upon the spring, provided with a weighted portion to prevent its rotating when jarred, and an insulating-sleeve inclosin g said rod below the commutator.

5. A commutator-brush consisting of a primary part hinged to the frame of the machine, a secondary part hinged to said primary part and provided with a jaw or clamping portion adapted to act in conjunction with said primary part to clamp the commutator-brush when said secondary part is moved toward the commutator, and a spring device acting upon the outer portion of the secondary part to cause said secondary part to clamp the commutator-brush and move it toward the commutator.

6. The combination of a commutator with a brush-holder consisting of a primary part hinged so as to be movable to or from the commutator and formed with a socket at its lower portion to receive the commutatorbrush, a secondary part hinged to said primary part and provided with a jaw or pro jection extending toward the commutator and adapted to clamp the commutator-brush and held in the socket of the primary part, and a spring acting upon said secondary part to move it toward the commutator.

7. The combination of a commutator with a brush-holder consisting of a primary part hinged so as to be movable to or from the commutator and formed with a socket at its lower portion to receive the commutatorbrush, a secondary par-t hinged to said pri mary part and provided with a jaw or pro jection extending toward the commutator and adapted to clamp the commutator-brush and hold it in the socket of the primary part, and a removable shutter carried by the brushholder, adapted to form an obstruction to the outer or rear portion of the socket of the primary part to prevent the escape of the commutator-brush.

8. The combination of a commutator with a brush-holder consisting of two parts loosely connected together and forming bet-ween them a socket portion for receiving and holding the commutator-brush, a support for one end of one of said parts, and atension device acting upon the opposite end of the other part, whereby the said portions of the commutator-brush holder simultaneously act to clamp and hold the brush and feed itagainst the commutator.

9. A brush-holder for an electric motor or dynamo-electric machine, consisting of a primary part D, having a socket portion, combined with a secondary part F, hinged thereto at G and provided witha clamping-jaw f, and a loosely-connected shutter H, carried by the primar 7 part and movable so as to expose the socket portion from the rear for the, insertion or removal of the commutator-brush.

10. A commutator-brush holder consisting of two parts hinged together and having their adjacent portions formed with flattened surfaces for the purpose of receiving and clamping the commutator-brush, in combination with a tension device acting upon said brushholder to cause said parts to clamp the brush and move the brush-holder as an entirety toward the commutator.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE HERBERT CONDICT.

Witnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, A. J. DUNN. 

